The health ministry launched a hotline number for patients to share their grievances, coinciding with the first-ever World Patient Safety Day in Tsirang today. September 17 has been endorsed as World Patient Safety Day by the 72nd World Health Assembly in May this year.
The ministry says the hotline number 1414 can be used to get feedback and recommendations to enhance efficiency and quality services in the healthcare system.
“Our divisions’ responsibility would be to find out why the doctor didn’t come on time, is it because he is overworked or is it because he had other engagements. We will study if we need additional HR or do the medical services need to pull up their socks. So we would be giving feedback not only just to the system of ministry of health but we will also contact the patients and enquire more so that we can improve the quality of services,” Kinley Wangchuk, the program officer of the health ministry, said.
The day is observed to raise awareness about the patient’s safety. The patient safety aspects include safe medication, safe clinical blood transfusion, surgical safety and safe patient handover among others.
“If you see globally, I think there are now more incidences of medical errors and causing harm to the patients from the treatment they are provided. That’s why I think international organisations are now taking it seriously. But for Bhutan, it is not the first time. We have not observed the patient safety day but we already have a patient safety guideline, we have also been training our health workers and creating awareness,” Dr Pandup Tshering, the Director-General of Department of Medical Services, said.
As part of the day, a team from the health ministry also met with the health officials at the Tsirang Hospital. They were briefed on the importance of the day. A grievance box was also installed in the hospital so that the people can write and share their feedbacks.
Meanwhile, the 5th biennial health conference also began in Tsirang. The theme this year is “Enhancing Integrated People-Centred Health Services.”
Namgay Wangchuk
